Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #64

[COSCitizen]

There’s a don’t ask, don’t tell policy when it comes to contact tracing and protests. That makes it’s easy to say there is no uptick in covid caused by protests, but that defies all logic. IMO

The way I understand it, it has nothing to do with contact tracing. They are not seeing an uptick when looking at overall testing and hospitalizations.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

I see from the article that the FDA is already thinking that there may be pressure from the White House to release an untested vaccine just before the next election, so yes, there is a modest amount of comfort from seeing them put that concern into the discussion.

I can't see any President going on TV to say that there is an unproven vaccine/treatment available, that might end up being shown to be completely ineffective or perhaps dangerous days/weeks later. Oh, wait.......

 

[mickey2942]

Odd, isn’t it, that a lump of stone holds more value to some than a real, warm, breathing life.

This can be managed. It isn't a dumpster fire. Yet.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Nations who fail to use all mechanisms available to combat the still-raging coronavirus will struggle to beat it, the World Health Organization said.

Director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing:

Some countries ... have taken a fragmented approach. These countries face a long, hard road ahead.

Coronavirus live news: global tourism stands to lose up to $3.3tn, says UN

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Nations who fail to use all mechanisms available to combat the still-raging coronavirus will struggle to beat it, the World Health Organization said.

Director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing:

Some countries ... have taken a fragmented approach. These countries face a long, hard road ahead.

Coronavirus live news: global tourism stands to lose up to $3.3tn, says UN

It’s already been a long, hard road. I’m afraid it’s about to get longer and harder

 

[SoCalDavidS]

This can be managed. It isn't a dumpster fire. Yet.

As it's been since the beginning, there's a lag in the #'s. What we're seeing today is the impact of actions 2-4-6 weeks ago.

 

[tresir2012]

I just checked the whole forum, and it was mentioned in early April... by YOU you must have just forgotten

No way I can remember every link I post. I did edit my post to correct that we had discussed it in mid June but April? What did I say?

 

[SoCalDavidS]

Looking at Worldometers at Noon EST, with almost 9 Hours left in it's reporting day, I think we could hit 1,000 Deaths today. It's currently 227.

 

[tresir2012]

I do think it’s strange they can say protests haven’t caused a rise in cases but hey that’s great news for July 4th.

Yeah good point. Why are they all cancelled then? :-(

 

[JerseyGirl]

The US has been criticized by health experts for buying up nearly the entire global supply of remdesivir, the only drug licensed so far to treat Covid-19.

Ohid Yaqub, a senior lecturer at the University of Sussex, called the move disappointing news. It so clearly signals an unwillingness to cooperate with other countries and the chilling effect this has on international agreements about intellectual property rights, Yaqub said in a statement.

Dr. Peter Horby, who is running a large clinical trial testing several treatments for COVID-19, told the BBC that a stronger framework was needed to ensure fair prices and access to key medicines for people and nations around the world. He said that as an American company, Gilead was likely under certain political pressures locally.

The criticism follows Guardian health editor Sarah Boseley’s story that the US has bought up virtually all the stocks of remdesivir for the next three months. She writes:

Experts and campaigners are alarmed both by the US unilateral action on remdesivir and the wider implications, for instance in the event of a vaccine becoming available. The Trump administration has already shown that it is prepared to outbid and outmaneuver all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the US.

“They’ve got access to most of the drug supply [of remdesivir], so there’s nothing for Europe,” said Dr Andrew Hill, senior visiting research fellow at Liverpool University.

Coronavirus live news: global tourism stands to lose up to $3.3tn, says UN

 

[tresir2012]

The way I understand it, it has nothing to do with contact tracing. They are not seeing an uptick when looking at overall testing and hospitalizations.

I thought there had been a big case uptick in about 16 states in the last week.

Anyway just found a link where Tedros discusses dexamethasone which will greatly help with the uptick where serious cases are concerned.

WHO calls to ramp up dexamethasone production for Covid-19 patients

WHO chief on Monday urged for an increase in production of steroid dexamethasone to treat the critically-ill Covid-19 patients.

An ampoule of Dexamethasone is seen during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in this picture illustration taken June 17, 2020.(REUTERS FILE)
Updated: Jun 22, 2020 21:49 IST
By Agence France-Presse | Posted by Anubha Rohatgi , Geneva

The World Health Organization called Monday for a rapid increase in production of the steroid dexamethasone, after British clinical trials found it had life-saving potential for critically-ill coronavirus patients.

Researchers led by a team from the University of Oxford administered dexamethasone to more than 2,000 severely ill patients hospitalised with the new coronavirus.

Among those who could only breathe with the help of a ventilator, it reduced deaths by 35 percent.

“Although the data are still preliminary, the recent finding that the steroid dexamethasone has life-saving potential for critically ill COVID-19 patients gave us a much-needed reason to celebrate,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva.

“The next challenge is to increase production and rapidly and equitably distribute dexamethasone worldwide, focusing on where it is needed most.

“Demand has already surged, following the UK trial results showing dexamethasone’s clear benefit.

“Fortunately, this is an inexpensive medicine and there are many dexamethasone manufacturers worldwide, who we are confident can accelerate production.”

A low-dose steroid, dexamethasone has been on the market for over 60 years and usually serves to reduce inflammation.

The WHO emphasises that dexamethasone should only be used for patients with severe or critical disease, under close clinical supervision.

There is no evidence that the drug works for patients with mild disease or as a preventative measure, and it could cause harm, Tedros said.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has topped nine million, according to an AFP tally using official sources.

“It seems that almost every day we reach a new and grim record,” said Tedros.

“Some countries are continuing to see a rapid increase in cases and deaths.”

Continued at link.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

The US has been criticized by health experts for buying up nearly the entire global supply of remdesivir, the only drug licensed so far to treat Covid-19.

The criticism follows Guardian health editor Sarah Boseley’s story that the US has bought up virtually all the stocks of remdesivir for the next three months. She writes:

Experts and campaigners are alarmed both by the US unilateral action on remdesivir and the wider implications, for instance in the event of a vaccine becoming available. The Trump administration has already shown that it is prepared to outbid and outmaneuver all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the US.

“They’ve got access to most of the drug supply [of remdesivir], so there’s nothing for Europe,” said Dr Andrew Hill, senior visiting research fellow at Liverpool University.

We're so cool.

 

[musicaljoke]

Weird, I would have never guessed that. If true, it looks like there won’t be an uptick in cases for outdoor rallies and 4th of July celebrations.

It may depend on how the people within the gatherings interact with one another. Will they be just random people, walking in one direction while maintaining social distancing? Will they be sharing meals, or drinking, or chitchatting in little clusters? Will there be face-to-face interaction? Will the outside event actually have inside times too?

I wouldn't count on seeing no uptick from outdoor rallies and 4th of July celebrations.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

No way I can remember every link I post. I did edit my post to correct that we had discussed it in mid June but April? What did I say?

Haha, not surprised you don’t remember, April was about a million years ago!

 

[tresir2012]

The US has been criticized by health experts for buying up nearly the entire global supply of remdesivir, the only drug licensed so far to treat Covid-19.

Ohid Yaqub, a senior lecturer at the University of Sussex, called the move disappointing news. It so clearly signals an unwillingness to cooperate with other countries and the chilling effect this has on international agreements about intellectual property rights, Yaqub said in a statement.

Dr. Peter Horby, who is running a large clinical trial testing several treatments for COVID-19, told the BBC that a stronger framework was needed to ensure fair prices and access to key medicines for people and nations around the world. He said that as an American company, Gilead was likely under certain political pressures locally.

The criticism follows Guardian health editor Sarah Boseley’s story that the US has bought up virtually all the stocks of remdesivir for the next three months. She writes:

Experts and campaigners are alarmed both by the US unilateral action on remdesivir and the wider implications, for instance in the event of a vaccine becoming available. The Trump administration has already shown that it is prepared to outbid and outmaneuver all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the US.

“They’ve got access to most of the drug supply [of remdesivir], so there’s nothing for Europe,” said Dr Andrew Hill, senior visiting research fellow at Liverpool University.

Coronavirus live news: global tourism stands to lose up to $3.3tn, says UN

This isn't true. Remdesivir is not the only drug licensed to treat Covid. WHO have licensed two other drugs copying Remdesivir being manufactured in India under royalty free agreements and sent to 127 countries, while the pandemic is ongoing. I posted the details yesterday. Also the steroid drug I have posted links about today is licensed too.

 

[musicaljoke]

Putting masks on the presidents on Mt. Rushmore would be an excellent idea. Picture it in your mind. How novel.

ETA: Make the masks resemble American flags. Perfect.

Yes, that's a great idea. You could project them onto faces on the night of July 4th. And put tears in their eyes too.

How many editorial cartoonists will use this idea?

 

[JerseyGirl]

New York is building a database of travelers from states on quarantine list, governor says

Asked about how the implementation of the state's traveler quarantine is working so far, Gov. Andrew Cuomo described the process being used to ensure that those coming to New York from states where Covid-19 is surging are following the rules of the new travel advisory.

Cuomo said the state is working with the airlines to give passengers upon landing a slip to fill out stating where they came from and where they are going.

These papers are then collected by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the information is then entered into a database. Random checks are being done on these travelers. People could be asked to show their surroundings of the room you are in to make sure it’s a residence and then on a second check, it has to be the same surroundings, the governor said.

Asked if the quarantine has been effective, Cuomo said the state has not had a person test positive after coming in to the state post-quarantine. In other words, no one has traveled to the state after the quarantine was implemented who then went to a clinic or hospital sick and ultimately, tested positive.

Last week, New York announced a joint travel advisory — along with Connecticut and New Jersey — mandating that anyone traveling to the region from a state where coronavirus cases are spiking to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

As of Wednesday, 16 states are on the quarantine list, according to Cuomo.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Federal government's July 4 plans in DC go against health guidance, mayor says

In a news conference this morning, Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser said that she has told the Department of Interior that scheduled plans for Fourth of July in the district go against guidance from health officials due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We know that this is a special event for the Department of the Interior. We communicated to them that we do not think that this is in keeping with the best (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and department of health guidance, but this event will take place entirely on the federal property,” Bowser told reporters.

This morning the Department of Interior announced its plans for Fourth of July this Saturday on the National Mall, which include a 35-minute firework display and a flyover from military branches.

"The National Mall and surrounding areas will remain open and available to the general public for prime viewing of both the Salute to America flyovers and the annual fireworks demonstration," the statement said.

Bowser has repeatedly encouraged DC residents to celebrate the holiday at home this year due to the pandemic.

 

[10ofRods]

Is it possible for the virus to enter your body thru your eyes no matter what kind of mask you are wearing?

Yes, unless you have a mask with a built in visor. Even then, it could still be possible, which is why we need to stay 6-10 feet away.

But a visor or glasses would help.

More new closures for California. Through our July 4th weekend.
I get it. Independence Day in America involves big parties.

What I do not get, is that our cases have gone up dramatically with 27 to 35 year olds, yet no media is connecting the dots, that, hey, maybe this is linked to tens of thousands protesters and rioters closely spaced, yelling and chanting at the top of their lungs for hours and hours?
Nope.
Media and leaders will not go "there, to the obvious".
Yet, they'll shut down our businesses that our working our hearts out to comply with CDC guidelines.
If, California orders us, to shut down our restaurant, which is mostly outside dining, again...
We will not comply.
I guess saying "We're all Protesters" is the magic word.


REALLY?

Where I live is about 45-50 miles from any of the protests. We did have a small protest here in our county seat but nearly everyone wore masks and I saw with my own eyes that they social distanced to the point of it looking less like a protest and more like standing in line.

We had almost 200 new cases yesterday. Just under 100 of those were associated with work conditions (agriculture). The most conservative town in the county had its cases jump by over 50% (and they were the ones who had a maskless protest about the shutdown).

So...it's not just "the protests." At the protest nearest me, the vast majority were wearing masks (unlike the protests near Downtown LA, which by my own count and rewatching the thing, it was about 50%). So, I'd say if cases continue to go up in that part of LA, the protests surely had something to do with it.

But where I live, I find it very hard to believe that the protests about social justice played much role (there were a lot of MeToo people as well as BLM people). I think the mask protests played a small role.

The real culprit is that businesses have basically gone back to normal, there are parties in backyards every weekend night (and obviously people are using bathrooms inside houses). The highest rates are in neighborhoods near where the agricultural breakout occurred, so it's probably also grocery stores, gas pumps, etc. As usual.

Agricultural businesses have refused access to the workplace to County Public Health officials and also kept Public Health from distributing masks. The total number of cases aren't known yet, but it looks like 90% of the workers at this place have CoVid.

 

[tresir2012]

Putting masks on the presidents on Mt. Rushmore would be an excellent idea. Picture it in your mind. How novel.

ETA: Make the masks resemble American flags. Perfect.

Excellent idea. With "remove at your own risk" on them.